MD Program
Application Requirements and Process
Please follow the steps below to determine what materials need to be completed.
Budget Adjustments
- Don’t incur expenses that exceed the standard budget unless: a) you can cover them with assistance from family or friends, or b) if you will need financial aid to cover them, you have first cleared the expenditure(s) with your Financial Aid Officer. Be prepared to itemize and document any additional expenses.
- Rents that exceed our average budgets may be approved for extra student loan borrowing BUT only to a maximum of $1,600 a month. The Budget Adjustment & Loan Change Request form and a copy of your lease will be required before any adjustment to your budget is made. Check with your Financial Aid Officer before committing to additional housing expenses that you cannot cover with personal funds.
- For non-Columbia housing, we may be able to approve rent which is higher than in our standard budget. Potentially refundable deposits cannot be covered.
- Senior Elective Travel for Required Coursework – Expenses for D&I away electives are not included in the standard budget. They may be covered by Federal Direct Unsubsidized, Direct Graduate PLUS, or outside “alternative” loans, BUT you should be frugal about your transportation costs as we can consider only the least costly options. Consult beforehand with your Financial Aid Officer if you have any questions about allowable expenses.
- All requests for additional funds for D&I elective travel should be submitted to us in writing by January 31, 2026.
- Limited scholarship funds may be available for MCY clerkships, "selectives" and D&I electives taken at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in Cooperstown, New York. Requests for housing and travel costs for all students should be submitted separately from other requests.
- Residency Application Expenses - Some expenses related to applying for residency may be added to your financial aid budget. You will need to submit a separate itemized budget with documentation in order to add these expenses to your budget and qualify for additional loans.
- A student's budget is computed only for enrolled periods. The summer between the first and second year is the only non-enrolled period. Once second year begins, your academic years run back-to-back.
- If you take the CUIMC Medical Insurance, your budget will be increased by the amount of the premium for a single student as well as for the Supplemental Insurance, and your financial aid package may be adjusted accordingly.
- Other expenses will be considered if they are necessary and related to attendance at medical school.
Additional Information
- Notify our office throughout the academic year should any change occur in your family's financial circumstances from those you originally reported. This includes a change in your marital status prior to or during the award period.
- Notify us about any new aid (scholarships, loans, etc.) that becomes available after filing your applications.
- What happens if I receive an external scholarship or a loan not certified by the Financial Aid Office? Recipients of either externally-awarded scholarships or loans are obligated to notify their Financial Aid Officer. You will be granted a dollar for dollar substitution of the financial aid in the standard package in an amount equal to the "external" award in the following order: Alternative loans, if taken, Federal Direct Graduate PLUS, and Federal Direct Unsubsidized loan will be reduced first, then the VP&S Grant, if applicable.
- Notify us if siblings or spouse reported as expected to enroll as full-time students for either fall or spring do not do so.
- Students interested in a Federal Work-Study award should contact us for further information.
- Tuition Exemption - Partial tuition exemption benefits are evaluated on an individual basis and may be used to reduce outside loans for those who also qualify for need-based school funding. Students receiving full tuition exemption benefits are not eligible for need-based school funds.